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Re: Medical research on meditation

Hi Jaana,

It is interesting, although not surprising at all to anyone who has been involved in meditation, with its many flavors. I notice that the research was sponsored and conducted at the "Maharishi University of Management." ... the Transcendental Meditation college founded by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and which can be a little New Agey ...

Professor of Maharishi Vedic Science,
Chair of the Department of Maharishi Vedic Science

Without reading the study, I am not sure how they derived these categories, why "Zazen" appears in two categories, and why Zazen is not defined as "automatic self transcending".

That there are various forms of meditation, as I said, is actually already well known to most meditation researchers from reputable institurions, as I see the research. So, I am not sure what the surprise is. The researchers have, for years, made distinctions between various techniques and methods.

This is the most complete list I have ever found on medical/physiological/neurological studies on the effects of meditation besides the Austin book. It runs to several pages, although I am not sure if it has been updated (it may be only up to several years ago). The research is ongoing ... even as we sit.

Based on the abstract, I think the categorizations might have been made based on EEG changes, rather than underlying philosophy. I would have to see the original to confirm that, of course.

I agree the findings are not really surprising. But then again, a lot of basic research isn't; the trick is not always in finding out something radically new, but in thinking up ways beyond "sounds like it" to figure out how stuff is.

In general, I'm really glad about this new-ish trend of medical research into meditation.